Emily Hampshire is joining the ‘WandaVision’ spin-off focused on Vision.
She’ll play the AI tech system E.D.I.T.H. as seen in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home.’
Paul Bettany returns to star as Vision.
The cast continues to grow for Marvel’s second spin-off from successful original MCU Disney+ offering ‘WandaVision.’ Though the title has officially yet to be confirmed, we do know that it’ll be focused on Paul Bettany’s Vision following the events of the show.
According to both sources, Hampshire is aboard to play E.D.I.T.H., the sophisticated artificial intelligence (the name is an acronym for Even Dead, I’m The Hero), Tony Stark’s (Robert Downey Jr.) augmented reality security and defense system.
In the MCU, E.D.I.T.H. was originally created by Stark and bequeathed to Peter Parker (Tom Holland) following Stark’s death and seen in ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home.’ It provides access to Stark Industries’ global satellite network along with an arsenal of missiles and drones.
It remains to be seen how E.D.I.T.H. shows up in the series –– in the Spidey movie, the system was voiced by Dawn Michelle King, who served as first assistant editor and presumably was only going to serve as the initial version of the role, but was good enough that director Jon Watts kept her performance.
Hampshire’s casting, though, suggests we’re likely to see a humanoid version of the tech.
There are no concrete plot details about the new show yet, but back when it was first mooted, there was talk of the “White” Vision looking to reclaim his memories, in a continuation of his storyline.
After Vision died at the hands of Thanos in 2018’s ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ he returned twice over in 2021’s ‘WandaVision,’ first as a spectral creation by his beloved, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), through magic powered by grief; then as a rebuilt, nuts-and-bolts android with a ghost white appearance and zero memory of his past life.
When the two Visions battled in the ‘WandaVision’ finale, Wanda’s Vision restored the “ghost” Vision’s memories, then Wanda allowed her Vision to fade from existence. The new show will take place after those events, as ghost Vision presumably explores his new purpose in life.
Unlike last year’s ‘Agatha All Along’, (one of Marvel’s bigger successes in 2024) the new show is being handled by someone other than ‘WandaVision’ creator Jac Schaeffer.
Marvel has hired Terry Matalas, who has worked on shows such as ’12 Monkeys’, ‘Terra Nova’, but rose to acclaim thanks to his efforts overseeing ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3, which definitely pleased fans more than earlier seasons, to run the new ‘Vision’ series.
His work on ‘Picard’ certainly caught the attention of avowed ‘Trek’ fan Kevin Feige, and so Matalas now has the job. The only people who might be upset are those eagerly awaiting the much-talked-about ‘Star Trek: Legacy’ show seemingly set up by the finale of ‘Picard’.
Who else is in the ‘Vision’ series?
James Spader as voice of Ultron in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
So far, we’ve learned that James Spader, who played the rampaging AI who caused so much trouble for the Avengers in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ and effectively created the original version of Vision, will once more be back in performance capture gear to play the speechifying villain.
Known for playing stern authoritarian types and generally grouchy personalities (witness his superbly sarcastic –– but ultimately heroic –– Captain Liam Shaw in ‘Picard’), Todd Stashwick will be an assassin who is on the trail of the android and the technology he possesses.
Faran Tahir will reprise the role of the villainous Raza, leader of the terrorist organization the Ten Rings who tried to kill Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man.’ Though quite how his connection to the Rings organization works in the wake of ‘Shang-Chi’ remains to be seen.
Then we have Ruaridh Mollica, who will play a character named Tucker.
And, most recently, ‘Foundation’s T’Nia Miller was added as Jocasta, described as cunning and vengeful, with a grudge against Ultron. In the comics, she is a robot Ultron builds to be his bride who eventually sides with the Avengers. We’d have to imagine that Matalas and his writers have some other ideas for her storyline in the show.
Where else have we seen Emily Hampshire?
(L to R) Sirena Gulamgaus, Emily Hampshire, and Enrico Colantoni in Caitlin Cronenberg’s ‘Humane.’ Courtesy of Robin Cymbaly. An IFC Films & Shudder Release.
Hampshire played Stevie Budd for the entire run of ‘Schitt’s Creek,’ scoring plenty of acclaim, including several Canadian acting awards.
But perhaps more pertinently for this series, she was also a key component of the cast for Matalas’ ‘12 Monkeys.’
T’Nia Miller in ‘Foundation’, now streaming on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
Preview:
T’Nia Miller has joined the Marvel/Disney+ series ‘Vision.’
Paul Bettany is reprising his role from ‘WandaVision’ and the MCU movies.
Terry Matalas is running the show.
While we still don’t know exactly whether Marvel’s second follow-up to ‘WandaVision’ (following ‘Agatha All Along’) is called ‘Vision Quest’ or simply ‘Vision,’ a better idea of the cast is beginning to come together.
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Via scooper Daniel Richtman, word arrives that British actor T’Nia Miller is the latest addition to the new series, and she’ll be bringing to life a character named Jocasta, who is reportedly cunning and powerful, driven by revenge.
She’s apparently a main character, and Miller joins Paul Bettany, who plays Vision on the Disney+ series.
There are no concrete plot details about the new show yet, but back when it was first mooted, there was talk of the “White” Vision looking to reclaim his memories, in a continuation of his storyline.
After Vision died at the hands of Thanos in 2018’s ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ he returned twice over in 2021’s ‘WandaVision,’ first as a spectral creation by his beloved, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), through magic powered by grief; then as a rebuilt, nuts-and-bolts android with a ghost white appearance and zero memory of his past life.
When the two Visions battled in the ‘WandaVision’ finale, Wanda’s Vision restored the “ghost” Vision’s memories, then Wanda allowed her Vision to fade from existence. The new show will take place after those events, as ghost Vision presumably explores his new purpose in life.
Unlike last year’s ‘Agatha All Along’, (one of Marvel’s bigger successes in 2024) the new show is being handled by someone other than ‘WandaVision’ creator Jac Schaeffer.
Marvel has hired Terry Matalas, who has worked on shows such as ’12 Monkeys’, ‘Terra Nova’, but rose to acclaim thanks to his efforts overseeing ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3, which definitely pleased fans more than earlier seasons, to run the new ‘Vision’ series.
His work on ‘Picard’ certainly caught the attention of avowed ‘Trek’ fan Kevin Feige, and so Matalas now has the job. The only people who might be upset are those eagerly awaiting the much-talked-about ‘Star Trek: Legacy’ show seemingly set up by the finale of ‘Picard’.
Who else is in the ‘Vision’ series?
James Spader as voice of Ultron in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
So far, we’ve learned that James Spader, who played the rampaging AI who caused so much trouble for the Avengers in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ and effectively created the original version of Vision, will once more be back in performance capture gear to play the speechifying villain.
Known for playing stern authoritarian types and generally grouchy personalities (witness his superbly sarcastic –– but ultimately heroic –– Captain Liam Shaw in ‘Picard’), Todd Stashwick will be an assassin who is on the trail of the android and the technology he possesses.
Faran Tahir will reprise the role of the villainous Raza, leader of the terrorist organization the Ten Rings who tried to kill Tony Stark in ‘Iron Man.’ Though quite how his connection to the Rings organization works in the wake of ‘Shang-Chi’ remains to be seen.
Then we have Ruaridh Mollica, who will play a character named Tucker.
Marvel Comics character Jocasta. Photo: Marvel.com.
And in case you need bringing up to speed on how Jocasta will fit into the story, in the comic books, she is a robot Ultron builds to be his bride who eventually sides with the Avengers. We’d have to imagine that Matalas and his writers have some other ideas for her storyline in the show.
Still, the idea of the character as someone with a grudge to bear against Ultron and the power to carry it out certainly has appeal.
Where else have we seen T’Nia Miller?
(L to R) Laura Birn and T’Nia Miller in ‘Foundation,’ now streaming on Apple TV+.
Miller has appeared in movies including ‘Obey’ and ‘Dark Corners,’ but might be better known for her work on small screens.
Launching on Disney+ on Wednesday, September 18th with its first two episodes, ‘Agatha All Along’ looks to bring Marvel’s TV output back to a better level of success after some recent stumbles.
On the evidence of the first two episodes –– four were provided to the press, but we’ll refrain from going too deeply into the others since they’re further out from release –– the first spin-off from ‘WandaVision’ will be an intriguing, magical and sometimes musical ride anchored by an ever-fantastic Kathryn Hahn.
Hahn’s character, was, of course, the breakout star of ‘WandaVision’, a quirky best friend character later revealed –– spoiler alert in case you somehow skipped the show –– as a cackling witchy villain who had plans for Wanda Maximoff’s (Elizabeth Olsen) abilities. But her scheme backfired, and a resurgent, grief-powered Wanda left Agatha powerless and trapped in the fake town of Westview that the Scarlet Witch had created.
‘Agatha All Along’ (named for the song that so memorably –– and catchily –– framed everything the character had been up to) picks up the story by initially seeming to be channeling ‘WandaVision’s trick of riffing on old TV shows, as we’re re-introduced to Agatha, stuck as Agnes, now a weary detective investigating a murder. But all is still not what it seems, and soon she has shrugged off the major effects of the spell and sets out to reclaim her power.
Standing in her way? A rival from the past (played by Aubrey Plaza, who proves to be an excellent foil for Hahn) and a need to gather a new coven of witches in order to go on a quest for, if not redemption, then rejuvenation.
But far from copying ‘WandaVision’s template, ‘Agatha’ has its own compelling spell to cast.
Looking to take its TV development in a slightly new direction by having showrunners oversee more of the show than someone writing a script that a director runs with –– the difference between how TV has been run in the past and how Marvel made its movies –– this new effort is already bearing fruit. Jac Schaeffer, who created ‘WandaVision,’ is the primary guiding influence here, and she’s a sure hand as both a writer and one of the series’ directors.
She knows how to write for Hahn in particular and has created some other compelling characters that play well off of her.
And Schaeffer, alongside Gandja Monteiro and Rachel Goldberg bring a sometimes fizzy, sometimes dark look to the show, using effects sparingly and focusing on the characters. One or two shots aren’t perhaps up to the quality of everything else, but those are minor quibbles.
Performances
In other hands, this could simply have turned into “The Kathryn Hahn Show”, but though she remains excellent as the title character, there are other performances that work.
One of Hahn’s best roles, Agatha fits her like a glove, and the new show gives her full rein to explore new sides of the character. There are songs (though the series is not yet as musical as you might imagine given the presence of ‘Agatha All Along’ songwriters and Oscar winners Bobby and Kristen Anderson-Lopez behind the scenes) and real ideas surrounding the comedy.
Hahn is so watchable in the role, you can enjoy her doing anything, and here she has the chance to truly shine after stealing scenes before.
The ‘Heartstopper’ actor brings lots of charm to his mysterious role –– we don’t, for example, even know his name yet –– and he plays well amongst the more experienced members of the ensemble.
One of the witches that Agatha recruits, Broadway legend LuPone brings all of her performing power to bear on the quirky role of divination witch Lilia. She’s funny when she needs to be, and it’s a pleasure to see her in this particular ensemble.
Clearly an old enemy (but perhaps something more) for Agatha, Rio is introduced threatening her, but takes on a more interesting aspect that we won’t explore for now. All you really need to know is this gives Plaza the chance to be snarky, scheming and genuinely hilarious in places.
Other witches include healer/potions witch Jennifer Kale, played by Sasheer Zamata and the haunted Alice Wu-Gulliver (Ali Ahn), both of whom add comic sparkle and some sorrow to their roles. There isn’t a weak link in the bunch, up to and including the return of “Mrs. Hart” (Debra Jo Rupp), who is at pains to point out her real name when the need arises. Rupp really adapts to fill her expanded role, and she’s a delight.
Some fans of the MCU might churlishly want to think that ‘Agatha All Along’ isn’t connected to the wider cinematic universe enough to warrant the full Marvel treatment, but that’s a feature rather than a bug. And keep your ears peeled even in the early going for some comic book easter eggs that may well pay off down the line.
It has scary moments, a healthy well of emotions and plenty of laughs too. Agatha’s mission to gather her new coven for a mission –– call it “Potion’s Eleven” –– is an entertaining story with some hefty themes of how women have been treated through the centuries stirred into its bubbling cauldron, making for satisfying brew.
‘Agatha All Along’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
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What’s the story of ‘Agatha All Along’?
The infamous Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) finds herself down and out of power after a suspicious goth Teen (Joe Locke) helps break her free from a distorted spell.
Her interest is piqued when he begs her to take him on the legendary Witches’ Road, a magical gauntlet of trials that, if survived, rewards a witch with what they’re missing. Together, Agatha and this mysterious Teen pull together a desperate coven, and set off down, down, down The Road…
Who is in the cast of ‘Agatha All Along’?
Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness
Joe Locke as Teen
Sasheer Zamata as Jennifer Kale
Miles Gutierrez-Riley as Teen’s boyfriend
Debra Jo Rupp as Sharon Davis
Patti LuPone as Lilia Calderu
Aubrey Plaza as Rio Vidal
‘Agatha All Along’ premieres Wednesday, September 18th on Disney+.
And now he’s landed a key role in the still-to-be-officially-titled series built around Paul Bettany’s Vision character, which we recently learned will also feature the return of James Spader as villainous AI Ultron.
It’ll mark the second spinoff, following ‘Agatha All Along,’ which arrives on Disney+ on September 18th.
There are no concrete plot details about the new show yet, but back when it was first mooted, there was talk of the “White” Vision looking to reclaim his memories, in a continuation of his storyline.
After Vision died at the hands of Thanos in 2018’s ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ he returned twice over in 2021’s ‘WandaVision,’ first as a spectral creation by his beloved, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), through magic powered by grief; then as a rebuilt, nuts-and-bolts android with a ghost white appearance and zero memory of his past life.
When the two Visions battled in the ‘WandaVision’ finale, Wanda’s Vision restored the “ghost” Vision’s memories, then Wanda allowed her Vision to fade from existence. The new show will take place after those events, as ghost Vision presumably explores his new purpose in life.
Unlike ‘Agatha All Along’ (which will be on Disney+ with its first two episodes on September 18th), the new show is being handled by someone other than ‘WandaVision’ creator Jac Schaeffer.
Marvel has hired Terry Matalas, who has worked on shows such as ’12 Monkeys’, ‘Terra Nova’, but rose to acclaim thanks to his efforts overseeing ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3, which definitely pleased fans more than earlier seasons, to run the new ‘Vision’ series.
His work on ‘Picard’ certainly caught the attention of avowed ‘Trek’ fan Kevin Feige, and so Matalas now has the job. The only people who might be upset are those eagerly awaiting the much-talked-about ‘Star Trek: Legacy’ show seemingly set up by the finale of ‘Picard’.
Known for playing stern authoritarian types and generally grouchy personalities (witness his superbly sarcastic –– but ultimately heroic –– Captain Liam Shaw in ‘Picard’), Stashwick here will be an assassin who is on the trail of the android and the technology he possesses.
When will the ‘Vision’ series land on our screens?
Disney/Marvel is aiming to have the show arrive on Disney+ in 2026, with shooting penciled in for early next year in the U.K.
James Spader as voice of Ultron in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
Preview:
James Spader will be back in performance capture gear as Ultron.
The ‘Age of Ultron’ villain will reappear for Marvel’s series focused on Vision.
Paul Bettany returns as the title character.
If we’re honest, while ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’ didn’t quite match up to ‘The Avengers’, there’s no denying that James Spader’s wholehearted and often kooky performance as the rogue artificial intelligence Ultron was certainly an entertaining reason to watch it.
And despite his seeming destruction at the end of the movie (more on that below), Marvel is looking to bring him back for the new ‘Vision’ series spun-off from ‘WandaVision’ that will see Paul Bettany retuning as the android hero.
There are no concrete plot details about the new show yet, but back when it was first mooted, there was talk of the “White” Vision looking to reclaim his memories, in a continuation of his storyline.
After Vision died at the hands of Thanos in 2018’s ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ he returned twice over in 2021’s ‘WandaVision,’ first as a spectral creation by his beloved, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), through magic powered by grief; then as a rebuilt, nuts-and-bolts android with a ghost white appearance and zero memory of his past life.
When the two Visions battled in the ‘WandaVision’ finale, Wanda’s Vision restored the “ghost” Vision’s memories, then Wanda allowed her Vision to fade from existence. The new show will take place after those events, as ghost Vision presumably explores his new purpose in life.
Unlike ‘Agatha All Along’ (which will be on Disney+ with its first two episodes on September 18th), the new show is being handled by someone other than ‘WandaVision’ creator Jac Schaeffer.
Marvel has hired Terry Matalas, who has worked on shows such as ’12 Monkeys’, ‘Terra Nova’, but rose to acclaim thanks to his efforts overseeing ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3, which definitely pleased fans more than earlier seasons, to run the new ‘Vision’ series.
His work on ‘Picard’ certainly caught the attention of avowed ‘Trek’ fan Kevin Feige, and so Matalas now has the job. The only people who might be upset are those eagerly awaiting the much-talked-about ‘Star Trek: Legacy’ show seemingly set up by the finale of ‘Picard’.
James Spader as voice of Ultron in ‘Avengers: Age of Ultron’. Photo: Marvel Studios.
With zero plot getting loose from Marvel’s security field, the exact nature of Ultron’s appearance in the show is unknown for now.
But they certainly have history.
Ultron created Vision’s original synthetic body as the permanent home for his AI, but the Avengers intercepted it and instead placed Tony Stark’s AI assistant J.A.R.V.I.S. inside, creating Vision. At the end of ‘Age of Ultron,’ Vision confronts and, seemingly, destroys the final robot that contains Ultron’s consciousness.
Whether the casting suggests some fragment of Ultron survived in the world or is somehow locked inside of Vision’s mind given their connection, we’ll have to wait and see.
When will the ‘Vision’ series land on our screens?
Disney/Marvel is aiming to have the show arrive on Disney+ in 2026.
(L to R) Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. in ‘Enemy Mine’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Preview:
‘Star Trek: Picard’ showrunner Terry Matalas will write an ‘Enemy Mine’ remake.
It’ll adapt the 1985 cult sci-fi movie.
No director is attached yet.
Such was the impact of his work on ‘Star Trek: Picard’ (where he joined as a writer in Season 2 and then took Season 3, the last hurrah for the show, to new heights as showrunner) that Terry Matalas is a man very much in demand.
And that’s not all. Now, via The Hollywood Reporter, we know that he’ll also be working for another arm of Disney –– 20th Century Studios, which has put a remake of ‘Enemy Mine’ into development, with Matalas on script duty.
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What’s the story of ‘Enemy Mine’?
(L to R) Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. in ‘Enemy Mine’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
With mankind locked in desperate combat against a reptilian alien species, ‘Enemy Mine’ sees Dennis Quaid’s human pilot Davidge and Louis Gossett Jr.’s opposite number Drac crash landing on a desolate planet.
Both have deep-seated hatred for one another but are forced to overcome their prejudices to survive. Things are taken up a notch when the human pilot must take care of the alien’s baby when the reptilian is no longer able.
The original movie was based on a novella by the sci-fi author Barry B. Longyear. The novella was originally published in Isaac Asimov’s ‘Science Fiction’ magazine in 1979, winning the Nebula Award that year for best novella. It was followed by two sequels and eventually published as a trilogy titled ‘The Enemy Papers’.
So if the new take on ‘Enemy Mine’ does well, you can expect Disney, never a company to let a franchise opportunity to go unexplored, to order at least one sequel.
(L to R) Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. in ‘Enemy Mine’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Working from a script by Ed Khmara, German filmmaker Wolfgang Petersen made his English-language debut with the movie, taking it over after 20th Century Fox fired original director Richard Loncraine during production.
The clash, which necessitated reshooting the film, ballooned the budget, with more woe coming when the movie crash landed at the box office.
Since then, however, it has been re-evaluated as a cult movie, which goes some way to explain why it has been targeted for a remake. With any luck, the new film will have less of a chaotic production process.
So far, Matalas is the only person on the creative side hired to work on the movie, no director or producer is so far attached. 20th Century Studios boss Steve Asbell is overseeing development.
Since it is at a very early stage in the process, the new ‘Enemy Mine’ does not yet have a release date.
(L to R) Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett Jr. in ‘Enemy Mine’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.
Marvel is moving forward with its ‘Vision’ series.
Paul Bettany will return to star.
‘Star Trek: Picard’ S3 showrunner Terry Matalas is in charge.
Though the company has certainly committed to slowing down its output of both shows and movies, there continues to be forward movement from Marvel when it comes to new creations, or in this case, spin-offs.
In terms of follow-ups to the successful ‘WandaVision’, we already have the Kathryn Hahn-starring ‘Agatha All Along’ on the way, and now, following initial chatter in 2022, there is official word via Variety on the series focused on Paul Bettany’s synthezoid, Vision.
There are no concrete plot details about the new show yet, but back when it was first mooted, there was talk of the “White” Vision looking to reclaim his memories, in a continuation of his storyline.
After Vision died at the hands of Thanos in 2018’s ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ he returned twice over in 2021’s ‘WandaVision,’ first as a spectral creation by his beloved, Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen), through magic powered by grief; then as a rebuilt, nuts-and-bolts android with a ghost white appearance and zero memory of his past life.
When the two Visions battled in the ‘WandaVision’ finale, Wanda’s Vision restored the “ghost” Vision’s memories, then Wanda allowed her Vision to fade from existence. The new show will take place after those events, as ghost Vision presumably explores his new purpose in life.
Unlike ‘Agatha All Along’ (which will be on Disney+ with its first two episodes on September 18th), the new show is being handled by someone other than ‘WandaVision’ creator Jac Schaeffer.
Marvel has hired Terry Matalas, who has worked on shows such as ’12 Monkeys’, ‘Terra Nova’, but rose to acclaim thanks to his efforts overseeing ‘Star Trek: Picard’ Season 3, which definitely pleased fans more than earlier seasons, to run the new ‘Vision’ series.
His work on ‘Picard’ certainly caught the attention of avowed ‘Trek’ fan Kevin Feige, and so Matalas now has the job. The only people who might be upset are those eagerly awaiting the much-talked-about ‘Star Trek: Legacy’ show seemingly set up by the finale of ‘Picard’.
It’s another sign that Marvel is switching tracks in terms of who controls its shows. Having launched its Disney+ shows with a system where head writers worked with directors (the latter of which had more control), it is seemingly changing to a model more like traditional TV where showrunners make the majority of decisions.
Besides Bettany, who will be back as the main character (no word yet on whether it’ll simply be called ‘Vision’ or the previously mentioned ‘Vision Quest’), there are zero details on the rest of the cast.
We might see Elizabeth Olsen back, at least in flashback, but that remains to be seen.
When will the ‘Vision’ series land on our screens?
Disney/Marvel is aiming to have the show arrive on Disney+ in 2026.
(Left) Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in Peacock’s ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Karolina Wojtasik/Peacock. (Right) Marvel Studio’s ‘Fantastic Four.’
Preview:
Natasha Lyonne is the latest addition to ‘The Fantastic Four’.
Her character is a mystery for now.
The movie will be out in July 2025.
We’re always glad to see Natasha Lyonne show up in a movie or TV series –– her particular brand of crackly-voiced sarcasm usually helps make whatever it is better.
Marvel clearly feels that way, as according to Deadline, Lyonne is now joining ‘The Fantastic Four’, the company’s big chance to add its First Family to its Cinematic Universe. And Lyonne seems to fit right in with an eclectic ensemble that is already raising eyebrows –– and expectations.
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What’s the story of ‘The Fantastic Four’?
Marvel’s Fantastic Four. Photo courtesy of Pinterest.
The movie, which finally see Marvel’s most famous comic book superheroes (though X-Men fans might argue that) join the company’s sprawling Cinematic Universe, is mostly being kept under wraps.
Marvel has not said anything about the story, though its first imagery suggests a period setting.
In addition to Lyonne, the eclectic ensemble for this one includes British actor Ralph Ineson (as planet eating troublemaker Galactus), ‘Ozark’s Julia Garner (as a version of the Silver Surfer), Paul Walter Hauser and John Malkovich (both of whom are without confirmed characters at this point).
As for who Lyonne’s playing? That has also not yet been revealed. So take your own guess! A gender-swapped Wilhelmina Lumpkin? Voicing H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot? (Probably not). Whatever it turns out to be, we’re interested.
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ director and executive producer Matt Shakman.
Matt Shakman, who worked on ‘WandaVision’, is directing the film, working from a script that has seen contributions from Eric Pearson, Josh Friedman, Jeff Kaplan and Ian Springer. And ‘WandaVision’s Peter Cameron did some work once Shakman boarded the project, also.
Where else can I see Lyonne?
Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale in ‘Poker Face.’ Photo by: Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock.
The actor has been busy of late, and not just performing. She co-created and starred in brain-twisting Netflix series ‘Russian Doll’ and, more recently, was a producer and star of crime series ‘Poker Face’, in which she played a woman blessed/cursed with the ability to know when people are lying to her and uses that to solve crimes.
While ‘Russian Doll’ appears to be in limbo, ‘Poker Face’ will return for a second season. In addition to the shows, Lyonne is lending her voice to the animated ‘The Smurfs Musical’ (due February 14th next year), and has a role in Taika Waititi’s new film, sci-fi drama ‘Klara and the Sun’.
When will ‘The Fantastic Four’ be in theaters?
Disney and Marvel are aiming to have the movie in theaters on July 25th, 2025.
Long-delayed and awaited with trepidation by MCU fans, ‘The Marvels’ is far from the strongest entry in the franchise’s 33-film library. But it’s not unwatchably bad as rumored, either. There is some crisp action and moments that are inarguably funny and sweet, while other sequences will make one cringe and wonder who thought they were a good idea. Yet it does benefit from some solid performances, especially Iman Vellani in her big screen debut as Ms. Marvel – except that many more casual viewers may not even know who she is.
As ‘The Marvels’ opens, we are barraged with a bunch of material designed to catch us up, including a more or less complete recap of 2019’s ‘Captain Marvel.’ In addition to it being more than four years since that movie came out, ‘The Marvels’ tries to introduce us to two characters we’ve never seen on the big screen before: Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani) and the grown-up version of Captain Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris). Both made their debuts via Marvel shows on Disney+ — ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision’ respectively (Monica was a little girl in ‘Captain Marvel’) – and it’s a heavy lift to bank so much of this movie on audiences knowing who they are.
That’s because the emotional core of ‘The Marvels’ is supposed to be the relationship between these three superheroes, and while our three leads do share some excellent chemistry, it’s hard to feel emotionally invested in the way they come together, since we barely know two of them unless we’ve been tuning into their shows. The plot doesn’t offer them much room to develop either, especially Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel.
Instability in the space-time continuum – caused by the film’s villain, the Kree revolutionary Dar-Benn (Zawe Ashton), punching portals in said continuum – leads Captain Marvel (Brie Larson), Ms. Marvel, and Monica to all begin switching places with each other every time they use their light-based powers, thanks to “quantum entanglement” (where’s Hank Pym when you need him?). Tracing the problem back to Dar-Benn with the help of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and his space-based S.A.B.E.R. squad, the three women learn that Dar-Benn is channeling her power through an ancient armband – the companion to a similar artifact around Kamala’s forearm.
Fueled by a hatred for Captain Marvel that’s rooted in the latter’s past, Dar-Benn hatches a plan that will allow her to take her revenge while also restoring vitality to her depleted Kree home world of Hala – unless the Marvels can stop her.
There have been numerous reports of trouble behind the scenes on ‘The Marvels,’ and watching the film does give one the sensation of watching a product that was patched together as best as possible and finally just let out into the world. It’s not bad exactly: it moves relatively quickly – almost too fast at points – and some of its best moments have a sense of fun that’s been lacking in some more ponderous MCU efforts. The title trio also have their moments, with Iman Vellani – who made such a sparkling screen debut on ‘Ms. Marvel’ – a standout and finding her footing after some early unsteadiness.
But the plot seems murky and half-formulated at times, with people and places coming and going and narrative threads either dropped abruptly or just fading away, victims of the surgery that may have whipped this into presentable form. There are also sequences that just don’t work, most notably a sojourn to a planet where all communication is done via song, an ill-conceived stab at a mini-musical that is just embarrassing.
With the exception of some in-your-face action scenes (including a climactic battle between the Marvels and the villain that does not, for once, involve massive objects falling out of the sky onto buildings), Nia DaCosta’s direction of ‘The Marvels’ feels anonymous, lacking the mood of her previous films ‘Little Woods’ and ‘Candyman.’ Again, it’s mostly the camaraderie of the three leads that makes individual scenes work and keeps ‘The Marvels’ entertaining despite its deep flaws.
As we’ve already been saying, Iman Vellani mostly makes good on the promise of her debut in ‘Ms. Marvel.’ Her initial scenes here are a little shaky, as she overemotes and screams, but she settles in and finds her groove, and is a delight from that point out. She is the audience point-of-view character: a Captain Marvel superfan (in other words, an MCU fan) who can’t believe the things she’s seeing and participating in alongside her idol. It’s a warm, sweet, and charming performance.
Teyonah Parris’ no-nonsense Monica Rambeau is the other standout, also giving an empathetic performance while conveying a strong sense of the powerful woman behind the light blasts. As for Brie Larson, we’ve always felt that she was possibly miscast as Carol Danvers; we still feel that way. While she has moments that are quite effective, there are times when we’re not sure what she’s doing: a blank, wide-eyed expression frequently comes over her face. In the end, while she interacts well with her partners, Larson just doesn’t have – and perhaps never had – the gravitas that this powerful being requires.
As for the rest of the cast, British actor Zawe Ashton has a wicked grin and blazing eyes as Dar-Benn (in the comics, a male villain so obscure that he was killed after appearing in two books), but she doesn’t get to do a whole lot except fight and hold out her hammer (which is bigger than Mjolnir). Samuel L. Jackson collects his check as a somewhat cutesier Nick Fury, while Zenobia Shroff is as excellent here as she was in ‘Ms. Marvel’ as Kamala’s mom Muneeba.
The editing on “The Marvels” must have been a challenge for its two editors, Evan Schiff and Catrin Hedström. On one hand, some of the action sequences – especially the hand-to-hand combat between the Marvels, Dar-Benn, and her Kree minions, as the three heroes constantly swap places – are kinetic and surprisingly intimate, getting right up close into the action. But other parts of the film feel cut to the very bone, if not beyond, with the plot feeling less like a coherent narrative and more like just a choppy string of events. Plot points and characters get hustled on and offscreen like Oscar winners on a particularly overlong show.
Cara Brower’s production design is equally bifurcated, with some of the space-based imagery looking like it jumped off a sci-fi magazine cover, while a lot of the story takes place on Carol’s cramped ship and anonymous hallways in both Dar-Benn’s vessel and Nick Fury’s orbital headquarters. Aside from the cosmic stuff and some colorful costumes in the otherwise ill-advised Aladna sequence, there isn’t much that jumps out as compared to other Marvel movies. The visual effects, such a thorn in Marvel’s side these past few years, are…okay. Some of the imagery crackles and looks sharp, while other scenes (particularly an attack on a Skrull refugee camp) look cheaper and flimsier by comparison.
Finally, Laura Karpman’s music has grandeur but lacks identity. Like other aspects of this movie, it harkens back to a different generation of franchise films and doesn’t have much in the way of a singular theme or motif to make it leap out to the forefront. Like much in “The Marvels,” it seems generic.
What Does ‘The Marvels’ Mean For The MCU’s Future?
Without getting into spoilers, there are seeds planted by ‘The Marvels’ – especially in the tag before the credits roll and a rather mind-blowing mid-credits scene – that are sure to get fans fired up and speculating wildly about what’s next. As well they should: both scenes herald interesting new developments in the MCU. Beyond that, however, it’s difficult to say what comes next for Captain Marvel herself and her place in the Marvel firmament.
Brie Larson has made her disillusionment with the vicious toxicity surrounding the role very apparent (and good for Marvel for ignoring all that nonsense and giving this movie four female leads), and with “The Marvels” being for most of its length a fairly self-contained story, it’s hard to see what a third “Captain Marvel” would look like. On the other hand, would Larson be willing to play a supporting, mentor-like role to a very different team of Avengers? Like many members of the MCU’s current roster, Carol Danvers’ future doesn’t have a clear path in front of it.
Final Thoughts
‘The Marvels’ is by no means the catastrophe that online rumors and industry buzz have made it out to be. It’s got some terrific attributes, including the presence of Iman Vellani, the chemistry between the three leads, its unrepentant “girl power” message, compact pacing and a sense of fun. But a lot of it feels patched together, some of the humor falls flat, and it demands a lot of viewers who may not be up on all the Marvel shows on Disney+. Whether it represents the MCU managing to maintain a certain amount of quality control during a tough time or a new lower standard for the studio is not yet clear.
‘The Marvels’ receives 6 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘The Marvels’?
Carol Danvers (Brie Larson), known in the universe as Captain Marvel, suddenly finds herself switching places physically with her superpowered niece Monica Rambeau (Teyonah Parris) and an equally powerful teen named Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani). They trace the anomaly back to a villainous Kree leader (Zawe Ashton) who harbors a deep hatred for Carol and nefarious plans for worlds throughout the cosmos.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Marvels’?
Brie Larson (‘Fast X’) as Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel
Iman Vellani (‘Ms. Marvel’) as Kamala Khan/Ms. Marvel
The movie stars Brie Larson, Iman Vellani, and Teyonah Parris reprising their MCU roles as Carol Danvers, Kamala Khan, and Monica Rambeau, respectively, and was directed by Nia DaCosta (‘Candyman’).
(Left) ‘The Marvels’ director Nia DeCosta. (RIght) ‘The Marvels’ executive producer Mary Livonas.
Moviefone recently had the pleasure of sitting down in-person with director Nia DaCosta and executive producer Mary Livonas (‘WandaVision’) to talk about their work on ‘The Marvels.’
They discussed the new movie, the challenges of crafting a ‘Captain Marvel’ sequel that also includes elements from ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision,’ introducing Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau to the big screen, working with Brie Larson, navigating the “Marvel System,” the most difficult scene to shoot, and what fans can expect from breakout character Goose.
You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with DeCosta, Livonas, and composer Laura Karpman.
Moviefone: To begin with, Nia, can you talk about the challenges as a filmmaker of coming into direct a sequel that is also drawing on storylines from the TV series ‘Ms. Marvel’ and ‘WandaVision,’ as well as the 32 previous MCU movies? Was it difficult to find the right tone?
Nia DaCosta: Weirdly, the tone was one of the easiest things. It came naturally. I really wanted this to have a very specific tone because it’s a very different kind of film, we have these three heroes together, and it was important to me that it was funny. I wanted a lot of the humor to not necessarily come from jokes, but to come from just the warmth and the reality of the characters. So, the Khan family are just so funny, because their youngest member is a superhero and they’re like, “We’re from Jersey City. What are you talking about?” Then Carol being jaded, and Monica having her experience and her way of dealing with the craziness of everything that’s going on. So, tone was important to me and the thing that came most naturally.
MF: Mary, as a producer, was it difficult working with Marvel to keep track of all the continuity?
Mary Livonas: Well, what’s been so great is that this is a team-up that’s been in the works for a very long time. I was fortunate to work on the first ‘Captain Marvel’ movie, and it was a definite decision to make Monica Rambeau the age that she was in that installment because it took place in the past. Because we knew that we wanted Carol and Monica to one day share the big screen together. Then of course when ‘Ms. Marvel’ came up as a possibility for a Disney+ show and that show was developed and came out, it was an awesome experience to work in lockstep with that team to understand what foundation they were laying. But what’s wonderful is that the notion of a team-up is so ingrained in the DNA of Marvel Comics that to put it on screen felt natural for us. Again, I was lucky enough to work on ‘WandaVision,’ so continuing that story thread was also wish fulfillment and a blast to do. Really this is a team up movie unlike anything that we’ve seen before in Marvel. We’ve had the adventures, but this is a team-up movie that stands on its own two feet.
MF: For both of you, what was it like to have the opportunity to introduce Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau to the big screen?
ND: It was so fun. It was so great. Especially because I love ‘Ms. Marvel.’ Ms. Marvel is one of my favorite characters in the comics, and I really loved meeting Monica Rambeau in ‘WandaVision.’ So, being able to bring them onto the big screen and do more with them and throw them into a much bigger scenario than they’d been in in the TV shows was really cool.
ML: What’s great is just the ability to celebrate the incredible performances and the characters that Teyonah and Iman have helped develop and introduce them to a larger audience. What’s wonderful about this film and this installment is the notion that together we’re more than the sum of our parts and we certainly find that in the case of ‘The Marvels.’
MF: Mary, what was it like for you to collaborate with director Nia DaCosta on this project?
ML: It’s been awesome helping bring Nia’s vision to life and creating this story together. She’s not just wickedly cool, but she’s a total nerd. When we first met, we just gushed about all the characters that we love for hours. So, to make the movie alongside someone who’s as passionate, with a fellow fan was a joy. I can say the same about our crew members, but Nia is just such a talent and a force. Of course, she helped write on this as well and we’re lucky to have her talent.
MF: Nia, I understand that you’re a big of fan Marvel Comics. How did your knowledge of these characters and the Marvel universe uniquely qualify you to direct this movie?
ND: I think it was less the knowledge, and more my passion for it. I was really excited by it, and I think because I was a fan, it helped me to put trust into the Marvel system, even when I was like, “Oh my God, I would never do this usually.” It helped in that way. Also, just from day to day, being able to have people on wires, flying around and introduce characters that I really love from the comics, that was so fun. So that’s helpful, just in terms of keeping the passion alive.
MF: Can you expand on your experience working with the “Marvel System?” What was that like for you as a filmmaker?
ND: Yeah, it’s interesting because this is one movie in a huge line of films that have come before and will come after, and television shows, and they’re making so much more now, so it was interesting having to navigate and communicate between projects. For the most part, we got to do what we wanted to do, but you always are in a constant conversation with everyone, with Kevin Feige, with the ‘Ms. Marvel” show. Asking about the things coming after, trying to figure out information like, “Have you figured out what you’re doing with that yet? Because that will influence whether or not I have this in this scene.” So, it’s so different, but it was also a fun challenge.
MF: What’s it like having actress Brie Larson as number one on your call sheet? What kind of tone does she set on the set?
ND: Well, she’d done ‘Captain Marvel’, she’d done ‘Avengers: Endgame,’ which is obviously one of the biggest movies of all time, not even just because of how successful it was, but just the making of it. So, she was an old hand. She really came in with so much information and a desire to help everyone else and have a good experience. When we initially talked, we both agreed this should be a joyful experience and fun, and she wanted everyone to have a good time. It’s really demanding on actors physically and emotionally doing this kind of movie. You’re on wires, you’re working a lot, so she was a great leader in that sense.
ML: Brie’s an incredibly giddy, fun-loving person who brings such earnestness and compassion to the role as well as on set. She really helped lead the charge and make sure that the environment was a chill, fun one.
MF: Nia, was there one scene or sequence in particular that was especially difficult or challenging to shoot?
ND: Not extremely, but that first big set piece that we have with the switching and the fighting. So that was a big challenge of figuring out the switching, and who’s where when, where are they going, where are they coming from, and what side do we show. Once we got through that big challenge, it really helped us to have an easier time with the rest of the film. So that, I think, would be probably the most challenging. But also, the most informative.
MF: Finally, Goose was the breakout star of ‘Captain Marvel,’ what can fans expect from the character in ‘The Marvels?’
ND: Goose just has the best time in this film, and I think she is the fourth Marvel. She’s the star of the film. So, I think there’s a lot of exciting stuff with Goose in this movie.
ML: Goose continues to be as chaotic as Goose has ever been and as audiences have seen quick glimpses of, there are more Flerkens afoot. Rizzo is the US-based Goose, but we had Nemo and Tango with us in the UK. They are very exclusive celebrities who have very regimented training schedules. They’re awesome to work with. Incredibly talented, beautiful souls.
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What is the plot of ‘The Marvels’?
While investigating a wormhole linked to the Kree, Monica Rambeau’s (Teyonah Parris) powers become entangled with those of Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) and Carol Danvers (Brie Larson). The trio team up to determine why they are swapping places with each other every time they use their powers.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Marvels’?
Brie Larson (‘Fast X‘) as Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel
